The 47th collective exhibition of Collegium Artisticum, one of the most significant art events in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was officially opened in Sarajevo as part of the celebration of City Day on April 6. This long-standing exhibition once again brought together leading contemporary artists, presenting more than two hundred works that offer a comprehensive overview of the current art scene.
At the opening ceremony, awards were presented to the most outstanding artists. The international jury awarded the Grand Prix for fine arts to Irfan Hozo for his opus of three graphic sheets, recognized for their technical virtuosity and the synergy of gravure printing techniques.
“Of course, this award means a lot to me. I’m getting older now, and in recent years I’ve devoted myself to graphics, which seems to dominate my work. These three pieces were created over the last three to four months,” said Hozo.
The award for sculpture was given to Adis Elias Fejzić for the work “Tabuti,” while the painting award went to Mirza Smajlović for “Shop.” In the field of graphics, Salem Pezić was recognized for his series “Guardians,” consisting of three graphic sheets.
“My works can function both as a whole and individually. The recurring motif is always recognizable — the hand, the stećak, the greeting,” Pezić explained.
In the field of architecture, the Grand Prix was awarded to the project “Half a Frame,” highlighting that architectural excellence does not depend solely on scale or resources, but on clarity of concept and sensitivity to context. Co-author Nedim Mutevelić described the project as a prototype designed not only for a single location but also to promote Bosnia and Herzegovina’s wood industry and prefabricated housing for international markets.
The Collegium Artisticum exhibition has been held since 1975 to mark Sarajevo City Day, preserving the spirit of a progressive artistic and intellectual movement that has shaped the cultural identity of the city for decades.
